Quantcast
Channel: Sarah Schultz - The World Race
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 47

Your body needs to work out..

0
0

Being on the race, I have had the opportunity to visit many different churches. From small to large, from empty to crowded, from Albanian to Zimbabwaian languages. We have experienced all different styles of worship, music, and preachers. I have grown and learned the most from the Church we travel with, i.e. the body of Christ.

What does it really mean to be the church? To work as one body.

There are a few concepts that I have learned over these past 10 months that really taught me what it means to be the church. The kind of Church that Jesus and Paul encourage. Not just a space to meet once or twice a week, but a real living breathing active body of Christ. To ACTUALLY be the hands and feet of Jesus. I don’t want to hear a sermon about sharing the Gospel and then forget as soon as I walk out. And what I'm finding out is why the members are so important. 1 Corinthians 12: 12- 31 is probably the most common scripture for this topic. I've heard it and read it many times, but haven't seen it in action as much as I have this past year. Here's what I think is super valuable to pay attention to:

Each member of the body is needed and should be valued. We all operate differently focusing on different things. For Example lets say there is an elderly woman living with her grandchildren who can’t work because her back went out. Some people might stop and take time to pray for her and whatever the situation is. Some people might decide to build a relationship with the woman. Some might think the best way to help her is to play with the kids and let the woman rest. Others might try to take care of the chores around her house. What is the best thing to do for this woman? All options are great ideas! Everyone has a different gifting or way of helping that God specifically leads different people in different ways. There is no wrong way to help this woman as long as you are trying to do what you think best.

Your first response might not be the first response of another. And this is where we get in a judgmental zone. I have learned on the race that the area we are more called to or are more gifted in can often be the area we are most judgmental in. We see a need and go about it the way that God’s gifted us and sometimes judge others for not operating in the same fashion. What you think most important, someone else might think as least important and vise versa. The race has taught me to lean into the differences and let the church move and function without interfering fearing with different solutions. And don’t let conflicts prevent a plan from being formed. Inaction is an action. Don’t just stare a problem in the face and pretend it isn’t happening. What if Jesus didn’t stop to every time he was interrupted?

That all being said, I understand that people are flawed, including the church, and that I won’t find another community quite like the race again, but I want to be the person who realizes that it doesn’t take a mission trip to be a missionary. But it does take a church to be a more functional one.

 

Update: Ministry is going great here in Santo Domingo! All kinds of doors keep opening up. A lot of us are going to boys orphanage tomorrow and some people are doing a medical clinic. Pray for happy hearts and healing hands. 


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 47

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images